the conflict-第11节

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she　remembered　and　turned　her　horse。　　There　stood　the　boy　gazing　after　her　with　a　hypnotic　intensity　that　made　her　smile。　　She　rode　back　fumbling　in　her　pockets。　　‘‘I　beg　your　pardon；''　said　she　to　the　boy。　　Then　she　called　up　to　Selma　Gordon：

‘‘Miss　Gordonpleasewill　you　lend　me　a　quarter　until　to…morrow？''

Selma　looked　up；　stared　dazedly　at　her；　smiled　absently　at　Miss　Hastingsand　Miss　Hastings　had　the　strongest　confirmation　of　her　suspicion　that　Selma　had　forgotten　her　and　her　visit　the　instant　she　vanished　from　the　threshold　of　the　office。　　Said　Selma：　　‘‘A　quarter？oh；　yescertainly。''　　She　seemed　to　be　searching　a　drawer　or　a　purse　out　of　sight。　　‘‘I　haven't　anything　but　a　five　dollar　bill。　　I'm　so　sorry''　this　in　an　absent　manner；　with　most　of　her　thoughts　evidently　still　upon　her　work。　　She　rose；　leaned　from　the　window；　glanced　up　the　street；　then　down。　　She　went　on：

‘‘There　comes　Victor　Dorn。　　He'll　lend　it　to　you。''

Along　the　ragged　brick　walk　at　a　quick　pace　the　man　who　had　in　such　abrupt　fashion　stormed　Jane　Hasting's　fancy　and　taken　possession　of　her　curiosity　was　advancing　with　a　basket　on　his　arm。　　He　was　indeed　a　man　of　small　statureabout　the　medium　height　for　a　womanabout　the　height　of　Jane　Hastings。　　But　his　figure　was　so　well　put　together　and　his　walk　so　easy　and　free　from　self…consciousness　that　the　question　of　stature　no　sooner　arose　than　it　was　dismissed。　　His　head　commanded　all　the　attentionits　poise　and　the　remarkable　face　that　fronted　it。　　The　features　were　bold；　the　skin　was　clear　and　healthy　and　rather　fair。　　His　eyesgray　or　green　blue　and　set　neither　prominently　nor　retreatedlyseemed　to　be　seeing　and　understanding　all　that　was　going　on　about　him。　　He　had　a　strong；　rather　relentless　mouth　the　mouth　of　men　who　make　and　compel　sacrifices　for　their　ambitions。

‘‘Victor；''　cried　Selma　as　soon　as　he　was　within　easy　range　of　her　voice；　‘‘please　lend　Miss　Hastings　a　quarter。''　　And　she　immediately　sat　down　and　went　to　work　again；　with　the　incident　dismissed　from　mind。

The　young　manfor　he　was　plainly　not　far　beyond　thirtyhalted　and　regarded　the　young　woman　on　the　horse。

‘‘I　wish　to　give　this　young　gentleman　here　a　quarter；''　said　Jane。　　‘‘He　was　very　good　about　holding　my　horse。''

The　words　were　not　spoken　before　the　young　gentleman　darted　across　the　narrow　street　and　into　a　yard　hidden　by　masses　of　clematis；　morning　glory　and　sweet　peas。　　And　Jane　realized　that　she　had　wholly　mistaken　the　meaning　of　that　hypnotic　stare。

Victor　laughedthe　small　figure；　the　vast　clothes；　the　bare　feet　with　voluminous　trousers　about　them　made　a　ludicrous　sight。　　‘‘He　doesn't　want　it；''　said　Victor。　　‘‘Thank　you　just　the　same。''

‘‘But　I　want　him　to　have　it；''　said　Jane。


With　a　significant　unconscious　glance　at　her　costume　Dorn　said：　　‘‘Those　costumes　haven't　reached　our　town　yet。''

‘‘He　did　some　work　for　me。　　I　owe　it　to　him。''

‘‘He's　my　sister's　little　boy；''　said　Dorn；　with　his　amiable；　friendly　smile。　　‘‘We　mustn't　start　him　in　the　bad　way　of　expecting　pay　for　politeness。''

Jane　colored　as　if　she　had　been　rebuked；　when　in　fact　his　tone　forbade　the　suggestion　of　rebuke。　　There　was　an　unpleasant　sparkle　in　her　eyes　as　she　regarded　the　young　man　in　the　baggy　suit；　with　the　basket　on　his　arm。　　‘‘I　beg　your　pardon；''　said　she　coldly。　　‘‘I　naturally　didn't　know　your　peculiar　point　of　view。''

‘‘That's　all　right；''　said　Dorn　carelessly。　　‘‘Thank　you；　and　good　day。''　　And　with　a　polite　raising　of　the　hat　and　a　manner　of　good　humored　friendliness　that　showed　how　utterly　unconscious　he　was　of　her　being　offended　at　him；　he　hastened　across　the　street　and　went　in　at　the　gate　where　the　boy　had　vanished。　　And　Jane　had　the　sense　that　he　had　forgotten　her。　　She　glanced　nervously　up　at　the　window　to　see　whether　Selma　Gordon　was　witnessing　her　humiliationfor　so　she　regarded　it。　　But　Selma　was　evidently　lost　in　a　world　of　her　own。　　‘‘She　doesn't　love　him；''　Jane　decided。　　‘‘For；　even　though　she　is　a　strange　kind　of　person；　she's　a　womanand　if　she　had　loved　him　she　couldn't　have　helped　watching　while　he　talked　with　another　woman　especially　with　one　of　my　appearance　and　class。''

Jane　rode　slowly　away。　　At　the　cornerit　was　a　long　blockshe　glanced　toward　the　scene　she　had　just　quitted。　　Involuntarily　she　drew　rein。　　Victor　and　the　boy　had　come　out　into　the　street　and　were　playing　catches。　　The　game　did　not　last　long。　　Dorn　let　the　boy　corner　him　and　seize　him；　then　gave　him　a　great　toss　into　the　air；　catching　him　as　he　came　down　and　giving　him　a　hug　and　a　kiss。　　The　boy　ran　shouting　merrily　into　the　yard；　Victor　disappeared　in　the　entrance　to　the　offices　of　the　New　Day。

That　evening；　as　she　pretended　to　listen　to　Hull　on　national　politics；　and　while　dressing　the　following　morning　Jane　reflected　upon　her　adventure。　　She　decided　that　Dorn　and　the　‘‘wild　girl''　were　a　low；　ill…mannered　pair　with　whom　she　had　nothing　in　common；　that　her　fantastic；　impulsive　interest　in　them　had　been　killed；　that　for　the　future　she　would　avoid　‘‘all　that　sort　of　cattle。''　　She　would　receive　Selma　Gordon　politely；　of　coursewould　plead　headache　as　an　excuse　for　not　walking；　would　get　rid　of　her　as　soon　as　possible。　　‘‘No　doubt；''　thought　Jane；　with　the　familiar；　though　indignantly　denied；　complacence　of　her　class；　‘‘as　soon　as　she　gets　in　here　she'll　want　to　hang　on。　　She　played　it　very　well；　but　she　must　have　been　crazy　with　delight　at　my　noticing　her　and　offering　to　take　her　up。''

The　postman　came　as　Jane　was　finishing　breakfast。　　He　brought　a　note　from　Selmaa　hasty　pencil　scrawl　on　a　sheet　of　printer's　copy　paper：


‘‘Dear　Miss　Hastings：　　For　the　present　I'm　too　busy　to　take　my　walks。　　So；　I'll　not　be　there　to…morrow。　　With　best　regards；　S。　G。'


Such　a　fury　rose　up　in　Jane　that　the　undigested　breakfast　went　wrong　and　put　her　in　condition　to　give　such　exhibition　as　chance　might　tempt　of　that　ugliness　of　disposition　which　appears　from　time　to　time　in　all　of　us　not　of　the　meek　and　worm…like　class；　and　which　we　usually　attribute　to　any　cause　under　the　sun　but　the　vulgar　right　one。　　‘‘The　impertinence！''　muttered　Jane；　with　a　second　glance　at　the　note　which　conveyed；　among　other　humiliating　things；　an　impression　of　her　own　absolute　lack　of　importance　to　Selma　Gordon。　　‘‘Serves　me　right　for　lowering　myself　to　such　people。　　If　I　wanted　to　try　to　do　anything　for　the　working　class　I'd　have　to　keep　away　from　them。　　They're　so　unattractive　to　look　at　and　to　associate　withnot　like　those　shrewd；　respectful；　interesting　peasants　one　finds　on　the　other　side。　　They're　better　in　the　East。　　They　know　their　place　in　a　way。　　But　out　here　they're　insufferable。''

And　she　spent　the　morning　quarrelling　with　her　maid　and　the　other　servants；　issuing　orders　right　and　left；　working　herself　into　a　horrible　mood　dominated　by　a　headache　that　was　anything　but　a　pretense。　　As　she　wandered　about　the　house　and　gardens；　she　trailed　a　beautiful　negligee　with　that　carelessness　which　in　a　woman　of　clean　and　orderly　habits　invariably　indicates　the　possession　of　many　clothes　and　of　a　maid　who　can　be　counted　on　to　freshen　things　up　before　they　shall　be　used　again。　　Her　father　came　home　to　lunch　in　high　good　humor。

‘‘I'll　not　go　down　town　again　for　a　few　days；''　said　he。　　‘‘I　reckon　I'd　best　keep　out　of　the　way。　　That　scoundrelly　Victor　Dorn　has　done　so　much　lying　and　inciting　these　last　four　or　five　years　that　it　ain't　safe　for　a　man　like　me　to　go　about　when　there's　trouble　with　the　hands。''

‘‘Isn't　it　outrageous！''　exclaimed　Jane。　　‘‘He　ought　to　be　stopped。''

Hastings　chuckled　and　nodded。　　‘‘And　he　will　be；''　said　he。　　‘‘Wait　till　this　strike's　over。''

‘‘When　will　that　be？''　asked　Jane。

‘‘Mighty　soon；''　replied　her　father。　　‘‘I　was　ready　for　'em　this　timegood　and　ready。　　I've　sent　word　to　the　governor　that　I　want　the　militia　down　here　tomorrow''

‘‘Has　there　been　a　riot？''　cried　Jane　anxiously。

‘‘Not　yet；''　said　Hastings。　　He　was　laughing　to　himself。　　‘‘But　there　will　be　to…night。　　Then　the　governor'll　send　the　troops　in　to…morrow　afternoon。''

‘‘But　maybe　the　men'll　be　quiet；　and　then''　began　Jane；　sick　inside　and　trembling。

‘‘When　I　say　a　thing'll　happen；　it'll　happen；''　interrupted　her　father。　　‘‘We've　made　up　our　minds　it's　time　to　give　these　fellows　a　lesson。　　It's　got　to　be　done。　　A　milder　lesson'll　serve　now；　where　later　on　it'd　have　to　be　hard。　　I　tell　you　these　things　because　I　want　you　to　remember　'em。　　They'll　come　in　handywhen　you'll　have　to　look　after　your　own　property。''

She　knew　how　her　father　hated　the　thought　of　his　own　death；　this　was　the　nearest　he　had　ever　come　to　speaking　of　it。　　‘‘Of　course；　there's　your　brother　William；''　he　went　on。　　‘‘William's　a　good　boyand　a　mighty　good　business　manthough　he　does　take　risks　I'd　never　'a　tooknot　even　when　I　was　young　and　had　nothing　to　lose。　　Yesand　Billy's　honest。　　BUT''the　big　head　shook　impressively‘‘William's　human；　Jenny　don't　ever　forget　that。　　The　love　of　money's　an　awful　thing。''　　A　lustful　glitter　like　the　shine　of　an　inextinguishable　fire　made　his　eyes　fascinating　and　terrible。　　‘‘It　takes　hold　of　a　man　and　never　lets　go。　　To　see　the　money　pile　upand　upand　up。''

The　girl　turned　away　her　gaze。　　She　did　not　wish　to　see　so　far　into　her　father's　soul。　　It　seemed　a　h